DIY Project: Re-upholstering a Chair

I am overwhelmingly happy to report I have completed my first ever re-upholstery project.  A few weeks ago, my boyfriend found three of these chairs at a dumpster when visiting his Grandma.  He sent me a text message with a picture of them and I encouraged him to bring them home so I could teach myself how to re-upholster chairs.  So I scoured the web and fabric stores for some cute fabric and read every internet site that even mentioned re-upholstery.  It was incredibly nerve-wracking, but I set out on re-upholstering my first of the three chairs during Spring Break.

First, I took the chair completely apart, including removal of the seat and all of the fabric on the seat back.  The seat cushion was in great shape, so I decided to go ahead and reuse those.  The batting on the seat back was also in good condition still, so I figured I'd reuse it too.  Next, I stripped the chairs using an easy-to-use spray and wash called TSP.  Once the chairs were dry, I did a small amount of sanding in areas that were particularly rough or had splinters.  Then, I applied several coats of wood stain letting the chair dry completely before each new coat.

Then, it was time to put the chair back together.  First, I re-attached the seat cushion using a fresh set of screws (since the old ones were worn), and used the fabric I removed from the seat-back as my pattern for cutting out my new piece of fabric.  Using spray adhesive, I placed the new fabric over the batting and began   securing it with a staple gun.  Once complete, I used glue to adhere the cording cutting the ends at an angle and slightly overlapping them to try and make the seam....seamless.  And ta-da!

I am very happy with the finished product and am planning on using this chair as an occasional chair in my living room.  The next two are going to be totally different and go at the heads of my dining table (fingers crossed).  The one thing I know I need to work on, however, is the cording.  It was a little tricky and didn't come out as clean as I'd like it to, but overall I'd say it was a successful first upholstery project!

Austin House Tour

This place is AH-mazing & super cozy.  The wallpaper in the hallway was very unexpected
in a fantastic way and I am totally envious of their outdoor space.  Modern spaces can be very cold sometimes, but this couple does a a great job of keeping it cozy by adding different pops of color via pillows and artwork as well as by adding various textures to the rooms (check out the rugs in each room - each one is a totally different texture and color adding a feeling of warmth and anchoring the room in a way that seems necessar with such white walls.

{pictures via Apartment Therapy}

DIY Project: Yarn Lamp Shade

What you'll need...

What you'll do...

1. Tie first color of yarn around inside of lamp, knotting once for slackers or twice for comfort & security.

2. Wrap yarn around the shade creating random angles & triangles, doubling up your lines, tripling or creating a symmetrical pattern - I had no rhyme or reason for my lines and just went with my gut.  Finish by tying a knot at one of the three bars just the same as you did when beginning.

3. Repeat process with the second & third colors of yarn, wrapping around as many as you'd like or as little. 

And voila! You are done with your lamp shade.  Here was my final product.

I was very nervous when I began but it's a very easy-going project that requires little effort & time with a fun end-product.  Plus, I don't believe there's any way you could possibly screw up.  (FYI, the base was $20 at Target so my whole project cost $40!  Far cheaper than  a similar one I saw in a catalog for $130.)

What do you think - fabulous or a flop?  Would you try this at home?

Etsy Tuesday: Owl Mania

Owls are still very popular, even though mushrooms, raccoons and birds are fighting for their spot in current trends.  As a result, I thought I'd share a few links for this week's Etsy post so you can continue to add to your collection of owls.  Isn't the skirt adorable?!  How about those tags?  They would be perfect for a birthday note on a present.  Happy Shopping!

1. Platter & Tea Towel

2.  Gift Tags

3. Sleepy Owl Planter

4. Swizzle Sticks

5. Chiffon Skirt

6. Silver Bracelets

7. Vintage Ashtray

8. Adorable Earrings

9. Sweet Owl Planter

10. 70s Embroidered Artwork

11. Retro Owl Watch/Pendant

12. Cork Hot Pad

Stylish Bedrooms with Twin Beds

I love the idea of using multiple twin-sized beds in a guest or kid's room, probably since I was the only girl and never had to share a room.  It is a great way to maximize space however, especially if you're short on square footage or receive many guests during the holidays.  If you're a grandparent with lots of grandchildren, you could even add trundle beds or bunks beds.  Here are a few rooms that inspire me to make my future children share a bedroom.

understated feminine guest room

Hollywood Regency

sweet & whimsical

modern girl's room

Mid-Century Style

eclectic bedroom

rustic style

Southern Living

charming kids' bedroom

Home Decor Signage

Absolutely love this idea from None.

Home Design Ideas from It's Complicated

Just watched It's Complicated today for the 1000th time and I am still drooling over Meryl Streep's fictional house.  It is absolutely amazing and makes you want to buy a Tuscan-inspired home in California almost immediately.  I can imagine dinner parties by the pool, playing Scrabble on the raw wood dining table, and making chocolate cupcakes in the kitchen.  The house is romantic, easy, and cozy with its neutral colors, clawfoot tub, and mature trees.  Below are just a few pictures from the set of It's Complicated for your viewing pleasure.

 

  

 

The last movie still pictured here is what brings you back to reality.  Just seeing it makes you remember it's a fictional house since no one has that great of a garden.  It's absolutely impeccable and reminds me more of the community gardens around town than someone's home garden.  It would be great though...

{pictures courtesy of Traditional Home,  IMDB and Elle Decor}

Design Fun: Outfit to Room

I won't pretend to be a great designer in fashion or interiors, but I do know that in both, styles are constantly changing and evolving.  It takes a great eye to mix colors and patterns, but when you get it right, it feels so good.  Inspiration for both can be drawn from anywhere - old fashion magazines, fabric stores, or trips around the globe.  Below are three outfits that can easily inspire a room, or vice versa.  Hopefully you'll get just as excited as me to start decorating your room or mixing up your wardrobe.

{Dress by Anthropologie, Room by Domino Magazine}

{Dress by Anthropologie, Room by Jonathan Adler} 

{Dress by Cynthia Vincent, Vest by Sabine & Boots by Dolce Vita; Room by Elle Decor} 

Two Thumbs Up for Hotel Americano

Yowser!  The word "sexy" is not usually used when it comes to a hotel, but Hotel Americano is just that.  It is a sexy beast.  Located in Chelsea's Art District, this hotel is a reason to fly to NYC and just stay put.  Forget the Statue of Liberty and Central Park and hang out at the Hotel's uber chic bar, take a swim in their modern pool, or take in the City's lights from the balcony.

Designed by Mexico City's famed architect Enrique Norton and Paris-based interior designer Arnaud Montigny, the modern rooms feature natural materials, soaking tubs, marble-clad bathrooms, platform beds, fireplaces and iPads with in-room controls and for ordering room service that arrives in bento boxes.

 

Mirroring the Hotel's incredible designs, the dining room, patio & grill features "French fare with a Latin flair" led by Executive Chef Olivier Reginensi.  And then there is the Jetsons-inspired bar which serves up signature cocktails and Mezcal from behind a Brazilian-style bar.

Of course, if you feel like you just have to leave the room, the front desk can arrange to have bicycles delivered from Bowery Lane Bicycles for a ride around the city that inspires so many.  And just in case your mind is clouded by the sexiness of the hotel, check out this City Guide by Joanna Goddard to find the best places to shop, eat, relax, or not look like a tourist.